Greek University of Ioannina Faces Closure

by Abed Alloush, Greek Reporter: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/09/25/greek-university-of-ioannina-faces-closure/

Due to the strict fiscal policy and mobility scheme that the Troika imposes, the Greek government took great measures in order to reform the educational system of Greece.

These measures led to a series of unfavorable modifications, for both educational and administrative staff, such as salary or funding reduction, and staff induction.

As was expected, there were many severe reactions. The Greek government’s policy was followed by strikes, occupations, marches and protests.

Greek universities are facing a survival problem because of funding reduction, leading to postponement of their  function. The possibility of universities suspending their activities permanently cannot be excluded.

Among them is the University of Ioannina , as its Senate decided to suspend all administrative and teaching activities, according to Greek media reports, by next Monday.

More than 20,000 students the 17 departments host, are facing the danger of not completing their studies in the worst case scenario. In addition, new students cannot be enrolled as the secretary is closed, while September 27 is by law the deadline for registrations.

The continuous strikes by various universities’ administrative staff, as well as the Senate’s decision to postpone the institutions’ function led the Greek Minister of Education, Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos, to an unofficial extension of the enrollment period.

The University of Ioannina, along with seven more Greek Universities, which are under the Troika’s mobility scheme, are about to bring the matter before the Council of State.